Funny thing is that my positive attitude and try to make the best of things mantra have not always served me well. When I was going through the disability process, I was given a disk containing all of my doctor's visit notes and information. After my first denial I sat and read through pages of notes that were nothing short of shocking. Over and over again, different doctors I saw stated that I was pleasant and appeared fine, smiling and not in apparent distress! Really......my can do attitude and determination to smile through the pain were now being used against me....WTH?????
I still try to be pleasant and I still believe that a positive attitude will make chronic illness more palatable, but having said that, when you see your doctor you must be brutally honest and don't hide anything....this is one place you must let it all hang out. I still struggle with having a good relationship with my doctors and not being that pesky whiny person they all hate to see, but as in all things, you must find a balance and err on the side of what is best for your health. We must be our own best advocated - no one else lives in our bodies and no matter how much you feel that someone else can speak for you - most of the time they don't or won't know the depth of your pain.
So grin and bear it ----- NO! Smile through the pain maybe, but focus, make a list and be adamant about what your needs are. Nothing will improve until you are able to take your care into your own hands and make your doctor your partner in improvement. Hard to do - yes, impossible NO.
